The Appling County 4-H BB Team’s (Bulldawgs) season has been long and rewarding for the 2013-2014 season. The team, part of the Georgia 4-H S.A.F.E. Program, competed in five competitions throughout the state and represented their team, club and community very well. Both as a team and individually, the Bulldawgs brought back to Baxley several awards, as well as a bid to represent Appling County at the Daisy Nationals BB Competition in Rogers, Arkansas in July.

The S.A.F.E. Program is a volunteer led program operated through the state and county 4-H organization. The goal is to create an awareness of shooting safety, while helping develop poise, self-control, discipline and sportsmanship. The program is open to all 4-Hers from the age of nine on January 1 of the competing year, through the eighth grade. The BB component of the S.A.F.E. program is a five-meter (16’ 4”) four position target competition. This is a competitive program and requires dedication. The keys to a successful competitive team are dedication and parent involvement.

The season began in early October. New and returning shooters learned proper gun handling and shooting skills. The team also learned the proper positions, natural point of aim, as well as how to achieve the proper site picture. Not only did the team learn the proper shooting, they were also tested weekly on 4-H and NRA Safety Rules and Standards. Coaches for this season were Jeffrey and Gwen McLellan, Steven and Pricilla Haynes and Bob McDonald. Special thanks go to all the parents who helped this year be a successful one.

At the BB competitions, each shooter is scored by ten shots at ten bullseyes in four positions, (prone, standing, sitting and kneeling). In most matches, the shooters are required to take the written test over the 4-H and NRA Safety Rules and Standards. Each shooter competes individually and as a team. A Team consists of 5-7 shooters. The Bulldawgs were divided into two six person teams for the State and District matches. For other matches, teams were set according to the number of shooters who attended. The only matches that were mandatory were the 4-H District and State matches.

In November, five shooters from the team traveled to the Old Mill Invitational in Griffin. The shooters were, Gabe Music, Chance Vaughn, Cole Gardner, Matthew Sutton and Madysen McLellan. The team shook off their first match nerves and placed third out of 16 teams from Georgia and Alabama.

The team resumed practice after the holidays on January 13 and began preparation for the competition season. In February, they traveled to Douglas to compete in the State VFW match. This match was the first match for many of our first year shooters. It was also the first match of the season where the shooters were given a written test. Shooters that participated in the VFW match were, Gabe Music, Cole Gardner, Ally Smith, Madysen McLellan, Bryce Padgett, Hailey Cortes, Mackenzie Gruber, Josh Barlow, and Jason Larsen. The team placed tenth out of 24 teams. Individually, Gabe Music won the Bronze medal in Sitting. In the alternate division, Ally Smith won Gold in Kneeling and Bronze in Standing, and Hailey Cortes won Silver in Prone and Bronze in Kneeling and Third High Overall.

The team traveled to Jesup for the Southeast District match on March 1. This match is the match the team had been working toward all year. At the District match, shooters and teams qualify to attend the State 4-H match held at Rock Eagle. To qualify, a shooter must score at least a 310 out of a possible 400 or be a part of a team that scores at least a 1550. We were very pleased that all 12 shooters that went to the District match qualified for the State Match. Team One, which included, Gabe Music, Cole Gardner, Matthew Sutton, Madysen McLellan, Josh Barlow and Hailey Cortes, placed third. Team Two, which included, Mackenzie Gruber, Jason Larsen, Ally Smith, Nathan Lowther, Bryce Padgett and Ethan Twiggs, placed fifth. Individually, Gabe Music brought home Gold in Prone, Silver in Kneeling and placed Second High Overall, and Hailey Cortes won Bronze in Prone.

On April 5 and 6, the Bulldawgs headed to Rock Eagle to compete in the largest outdoor shooting match in the world, the Georgia 4-H State Match. There were 591 shooters on 85 teams competing this year. The Bulldawgs overcame the pollen and heat and competed well with Team One placing 17th while Team Two placed 71st. Also at this match, the team score included a 50 question written test. Of the 11 shooters on the Bulldawgs, ten of the shooters achieved a 100 on the test. Individually, Madysen McLellan received a medal for placing eighth in the Prone position.

In what we thought was to be our final match, five Bulldawgs went to Monroe, to compete at the Georgia Games BB Championship. Shooters included Gabe Music, Matthew Sutton, Madysen McLellan, Hailey Cortes and Josh Barlow. The individual scoring at the Georgia Games is different than any other match we compete in. At the Georgia Games, shooters compete against shooters in their age group and sex. Individually, Matthew Sutton won Gold in Prone for the Boys 13-15 age group. Madysen McLellan won Bronze in Standing for the Girls 11-12 age group, and Hailey Cortes won Gold in Sitting and Kneeling and Bronze Overall for the Girls 11-12 age groups. In the Team Category, the team won a first place bid to the Daisy Nationals.

On April 23 the team had their end of the season banquet. At the banquet, awards were handed out to all the shooters who achieved 100 on the written test at the state match. Gabe Music, Cole Gardner, Matthew Sutton and Nathan Lowther were given plaques to show appreciation for their years of participation in the club. These four gentlemen have graduated from the program due to going to the ninth grade next year. Also, appreciation plaques were given to two special volunteers, Amy Gardner and Beverly Carter, for their many years of service to the Bulldawgs.

Appling County has not been to the Daisy Nationals since 2007, when the team won the National Championship. Gabe Music, Cole Gardner, Matthew Sutton, Madysen McLellan, Hailey Cortes, Josh Barlow and Mackenzie Gruber make up the team that will be representing Appling County in Arkansas. These seven shooters are practicing daily so they can compete against the nations best shooters. The team is conducting several fundraisers to make money to help with the expenses of the trip. If you are approached, any and all support is appreciated. Also, if you would like to make a donation, you can send it to Appling County 4-H BB Team at Post Office Box 478, Baxley.

As this year is coming to an end, we are already looking forward to next year. If you would like for your child to participate in the 4-H BB Program, contact Mrs. Becky Collins at (912) 367-8130 or Jeffrey McLellan at (912) 367-8178. The program is open to all 4-Hers, age nine thru eighth grade.

Do they use the pistol type of BB gun or the rifle type?I think it would be better if they will be using the M4-177 Pneumatic pump air rifle in competitions when they get on higher years.

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